Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Dryobates scalaris
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPiciformes (Woodpeckers and Allies)
- FamilyPicidae (Woodpeckers)
- GenusDryobates (Dryobates Woodpeckers)
- SpeciesDryobates scalaris (Ladder-backed Woodpecker)
About the Ladder-backed Woodpecker
The ladder-backed woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) is a North American woodpecker. The ladder-backed woodpecker is a small woodpecker about 16.5 to 19 cm (6½ to 7½ inches) in length. It is primarily colored black and white, with a barred pattern on its back and wings resembling the rungs of a ladder. Its rump is speckled with black, as are its cream-colored underparts on the breast and flanks. Southern populations have duskier buff breasts and distinctly smaller bills. Adult males have a red crown patch that is smaller in immatures and lacking in adult females. The ladder-backed woodpecker is very similar in appearance to Nuttall's woodpecker, but has much less black on its head and upper back, and the range of the two species only intersects a minimal amount in southern California and northern Baja California. Hybrids are known.
Ladder-backed woodpeckers nest in cavities excavated from tree trunks, or in more arid environments a large cactus will do. The female lays between 2 and 7 eggs, which are plain white. The eggs are incubated by both sexes, but the nesting period and other details are unknown.
Like most other woodpeckers the ladder-backed woodpecker bores... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Ladder-backed Woodpecker in Joshua Tree National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Dryobates nuttallii
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Williamson's Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus thyroideus
White-headed Woodpecker
Leuconotopicus albolarvatus
Red-naped Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus ruber
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Celestún Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 6 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 7 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 8 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 9 | Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 10 | Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 11 | Calakmul Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 12 | Tikal National Park | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 13 | Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 14 | Cañón del Sumidero National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Ladder-backed Woodpecker in Joshua Tree National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Ladder-backed Woodpecker sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 2,618 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Ladder-backed Woodpecker in Joshua Tree National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Ladder-backed Woodpecker in Joshua Tree National Park in our monthly data.